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Release date: September 1, 2016

Publisher: Dark Victory Press

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

Set against Arizona’s political and cultural vortex at the start of 2010, “The Intersect” explores the issues of the day by weaving together the lives of disparate characters striving to survive in a world where the strongest link, and most lasting connection, is made among strangers. When Dave and Charlie relocate from the Bay Area to Phoenix, tensions ratchet up in their relationship as Charlie insists on buying a house on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore as Dave contemplates leaving his job. Daisy, a spry septuagenarian, shows up at their front door after a long convalescence, unaware that her greedy, Michigan relatives, Jack and Enid, have already sold her home. Charlie assumes the older woman is Dave’s distant aunt and happily ushers her into a guest room. Meanwhile, across town, Anna, a gifted psychic who channels the dead, is concerned about her neighborhood. She hires a handyman to install motion-detectors, unaware that Ernie has entered the United States illegally from Mexico as a child. When Henry, a homeless gay teen, attempts to rob Anna, Ernie intervenes and a melee ensues. The police mistakenly arrest Ernie, leading to his deportation. And so begins “The Intersect” as relationships unravel, secrets are revealed, love blossoms, and injustice leads to a thrilling climax. 

Review: 

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of having Brad Graber here for a Q & A. Ever since, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the time when The Intersect would finally pop up in my TBR list. I loved the premise for this one, converging storylines always catch my interest and Graber did an outstanding job of weaving the lives of eight characters together here.

As I mentioned earlier, there are eight different people here that eventually cross paths. Some happened early on while others took some time and left me wondering just how these seemingly unrelated people would fit together. Dave and Charlie are a couple who have recently relocated to Phoenix from San Fransisco for a new career opportunity for Dave. Daisy is an elderly woman who has an accident that leaves her incapacitated and vulnerable. Jack and Enid move to Phoenix from Detroit and Jack is Daisy’s nephew. Anna is a psychic and Ernie is an illegal immigrant who does handyman work for Anna. Henry is a young homeless teenager who is coming to terms with his sexuality. All of these characters are deeply developed, and there were some I loved and cared for and others who I hated. My favorites were Daisy and Charlie. She’s spunky and sweet and I wanted to take her under my wing. Charlie is such a positive guy, I could definitely take a page from his book. The worst was Enid, she’s greedy and selfish but even though I couldn’t stand her, after her backstory was revealed I could understand why she behaved the way she did. 

I LOVED reading a book that was set in my hometown of Phoenix, it was so fun being able to perfectly picture the locations Graber was describing and he absolutely nailed the setting. He also touched on many hot button topics, many that effect people nationally and some that are issues locally. With Dave and Charlie he showed the challenges that a gay couple face daily, with Daisy he shed light on the poor treatment of the elderly in our country. It was awful and heartbreaking to see how she was treated and it was even more sad knowing it’s a reality. Ernie is an undocumented illegal alien and his plight is one I’ve seen so many times in Arizona. Henry is homeless after his parents kick him out after revealing he is gay and this part hit me the hardest. I cannot imagine turning my back on my kids just because they want to be the person they truly are. I felt such strong connections to most of these beautifully crafted characters and was sad to say goodbye.

My one small issue was the ending, it was a bit abrupt for me. I had hoped for more closure with a couple of storylines but I’m hoping maybe there will be a sequel? There was a nice twist in the last part that I didn’t expect, which I always appreciate. I’m seriously impressed that this is Graber’s debut, his writing style is taut and he really writes wonderfully believable dialogue. His knowledge of a breadth of topics is apparent in the quality of his writing and I’m a fan. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Larissa at Claire McKinney PR for my review copy!

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Release date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Genre: YA, Fantasy 

Blurb: 

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever. 

Review: 

Though I do read YA I usually tend to pick up contemporary YA, I don’t read very many fantasy novels, it’s just not my thing. However, from the first time that I saw this stunning cover and read the enticing blurb, I knew that I had to read Caraval. (The cover is even more gorgeous in person by the way.) From the very first page I was completely swept away and dazzled by Caraval and my interest never wavered for one second.

First and foremost I have to talk about the world that Garber created here. It is beyond magical and enchanting, I’m blown away by her creativity and her vision. Her writing style is so detailed and vivid that you can easily and clearly picture what you’re reading. Caraval is a quirky and bizarre place where a game is being played, remember it’s just a game…I forgot this simple message many times as I was so captivated by this epic tale.

I love a story about the bonds of sisterhood and Scarlett and Tella had such a strong love and connection with each other. Though Tella is absent for most of the story as she’s been kidnapped as part of the game, she is never far from Scarlett’s mind so you still feel as if you have a strong sense of who she is and what she stands for. Their father is a cruel and calculated man and his mean streak has made them closer than ever. Julian helps the girls travel to Caraval and from his first scene I was charmed by him. He’s a rogue and devilishly handsome and many times I wondered what he was really playing at. 

I had heard that this was being compared to The Night Circus and while I can see why, Caraval stands firmly on its own. Yes, there are similar elements, however this experience was totally unique and had a darker feel that I loved. You’re always wondering what is real and what is just an illusion, afterall it’s a game meant to puzzle and confound. I was pleasantly surprised by all the plot twists and turns and Garber meticulously crafted this in a way that left me reeling. The ending was fantastic and had me craving more and not wanting this wickedly delicious game to end. This book will undoubtedly be HUGE in the new year, if you haven’t already preordered it, you’re going to want to do it now.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Flatiron Books for my review copy. 

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Release date: November 4, 2016

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Narrator: Kathleen Wilhoite

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb: 

A brilliant novel from the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, about a day in the life of Eleanor Flood, forced to abandon her small ambitions and awake to a strange, new future.Eleanor knows she’s a mess. But today, she will tackle the little things. She will shower and get dressed. She will have her poetry and yoga lessons after dropping off her son, Timby. She won’t swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action-life happens. Today, it turns out, is the day Timby has decided to fake sick to weasel his way into his mother’s company. It’s also the day Joe has chosen to tell his office-but not Eleanor-that he’s on vacation. Just when it seems like things can’t go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family secret. TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT is a hilarious, heart-filled story about reinvention, sisterhood, and how sometimes it takes facing up to our former selves to truly begin living. 

Review: 

I’m probably one of the only people on the planet who still hasn’t read Where’d You Go Bernadette and I’ve had it on my TBR forever. One day. But when I saw Semple’s latest book was an option for an audio review I was pretty excited after all the good things I had heard about her earlier work. While this was an extremely enjoyable read at times, there were definitely some moments where I wasn’t entirely engaged and I struggled to keep going.

Eleanor is the main character and she vows that today will be different for her. There were parts of her that I really liked, she’s snarky, has a wicked sense of humor and is dry, but I really like that. She’s married to Joe and they have an eight year old son named Timby. That’s not a typo though his name is the result of an autocorrect error. The story follows her in one day as she strives to be her best self despite her general unhappiness with her life. The universe has other plans and nothing goes the way she wants it to. What follows is a series of unfortunate events that have many humorous happenings. 

Wilhoite did a fantastic job as narrator, she did exceptionally well when she was reading as Timby. There’s a scene where she sings Morning Has Broken that was just amazing. She definitely made my experience more enjoyable. 

Towards the middle there are some flashbacks that discuss Eleanor’s relationship with her sister Ivy. I found this part to be quite boring if I’m being honest, it seemed to drag on and on. I also had problems connecting with Eleanor even though I appreciated her humor, I had no deeper connection to her. I loved Timby though and found him to be sweet and endearing. Joe didn’t really leave any sort of impression on me, he was just there. The ending was a bit of a let down as well and I was just underwhelmed. Overall it had some really funny moments and it was far more enjoyable than un enjoyable for me, but something key was missing for me that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Hachette Audio for my review copy. 

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Release date: November 1, 2016

Publisher: Mascot Books

Genre: Mystery 

Blurb: 

Patrick Baldwin had no idea missing Phoenix Airlines Flight 619 would mean he would live to see another day. The flight he missed went missing itself over the Pacific Ocean, going off radar without a trace or any sign of debris. When the world can’t stop talking about the disappearance, Patrick begins to delve into the mystery of the missing airliner in hopes of discovering its fate and the fate of his three colleagues who were on board. The deeper he finds himself in this mystery, the stranger the circumstances become. Was Flight 619’s disappearance an accident, or something more sinister?

Review: 

I was totally captured and taken in after reading this blurb, then when I found out that the author was inspired by the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, I was even more interested. It’s hard to fathom how, in this age of technology, a plane full of people can just disappear without a trace, right? There is no signs at all of where the plane crashed, no debris or anything. How is this possible? I can’t imagine being personally affected by this type of tragedy and never being able to receive any closure, it seems like it would be absolutely nightmarish. Mayers did such a good job writing this book that I almost forgot I was reading a fictional account and not a true story.

Patrick misses his flight and this is the luckiest day of his life even if he doesn’t realize it yet. He’s understandably devastated when his flight vanishes as he had close colleagues on board and he begins to chronicle the events in the aftermath in a personal journal. Final Boarding is actually his account in the days before the flight and the year afterwards. Telling the story of Flight 619 in this manner allows the reader to make a deep connection with Patrick. I was able to see his inner thoughts and feelings in relation to this catastrophic event and form a bond with him. 

I don’t want to discuss the plot very much but it is full of twists and misdirection as Patrick searches for the truth. When the whole truth is revealed, it’s totally crazy and unexpected. This wasn’t a typical murder/mystery it was full of conspiracy theories and corruption. It would make a really great movie, it’s action packed and suspenseful with a few tender moments that tugged at my heart strings. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

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Release date: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn’t offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game. 

Review: 

I’ve had to take some time since finishing this book to really collect my thoughts and wrap my head around all the things I gained by reading this book. I’ve been a Picoult fan for years and have read almost every single one of her books, so I knew beforehand that I would be in for a heavy read. She always manages to write novels that make the reader really think and contemplate various situations, but she’s really outdone herself here. She tackled some extremely substantial subject matter in a empathetic manner that moved me to the point of tears. (More than once)

There are three various viewpoints here; Ruth the nurse who is told by her boss and patient that she is not allowed to do her job because of her skin color, Turk the patients father who sets this entire situation in motion, and Kennedy, the public defender who represents Ruth when she is charged on multiple counts due to her alleged neglect. Picoult seamlessly weaves all of these perspectives together and still manages to write in a distinct voice for each character. 

The growth of the characters in Small Great Things is astounding and may be Picoult’s best work in that department yet. Ruth reveals parts of herself that she has never even acknowledged herself during the course of the story. She is facing the biggest challenge of her life and is faced with an uncertain future. Her main priority is ensuring that her teenaged son, Edison is taken care of and her life is in the hands of Kennedy. But how can she put her trust in a woman who has literally no idea how it feels to walk in her shoes? Turk is the sort of character that you loathe as soon as you meet him, he’s a proud white supremacist and there isn’t really much about him that is redeeming. But by the end of the book, I at least had a better understanding of what shaped him into the hateful man that he was. Things come full circle in a way that is classic Picoult and if you’re looking for her usual twist, you won’t be disappointed. 

Racism is hard to watch, difficult to read about, and almost downright impossible to discuss in an open and honest manner. Picoult wrote a really profound authors note at the end that explained why she was compelled to write a book on the subject of racism. She said she felt like it was the right thing to do, even though she was aware that it would be highly controversial and she would inevitably experience some blowback. I applaud her for tackling such a deep and volatile issue, it cannot have been easy. I’m so glad that she did though, it is timely and relevant and it was really thought provoking. It made me think about the difference between prejudice and discrimination, about how all white people are privileged in some way based on their skin color alone, and how ignorance still runs rampant in the United States. Book clubs would seemingly never run out of topics to discuss surrounding this book, the possibilities are endless. 

I could blather on and on about all the emotions I felt while reading this, I was outraged, disgusted, enlightened, sad, happy, hopeful. It was quite an emotional read to say the least. It’s not a book to pick up if you’re looking for something light or easy, but if you want a read that is captivating, emotive, and provides some insight into race relations, this is a must read.

Overall rating: 5/5

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Release date: December 6, 2016

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Genre: Holiday Fiction 

Blurb: 

Robert Robinson is a renowned author of two best-selling mystery novels. As his prestige begins to affect his work ethics, he becomes detached from his writing obligations. Because of his failure to fulfill a three-book contract that was already long overdue, his editor gives him an ultimatum. He could either face legal action, or travel to the editor’s farmhouse in upstate New York to complete a manuscript with no distractions. He arrogantly agrees to go after realizing that his options are limited, and makes a discovery in the old farmhouse that will change his life forever in the story of The Christmas Gate 

Review:

This is an absolutely lovely story of forgiveness and faith that I unexpectedly fell in love with! Robert is a best selling author who is dangerously close to missing his latest deadline and  his publisher sends him to his farmhouse to buckle down and write. What happens there is magical, delightful and totally not what Robert anticipated.

I do want to mention that there are some religious aspects to this story, nothing gratuitous but it is there. It truly adds the bones of the story though and provided such a warmth and sense of overall love to the book. I don’t want to discuss the plot at all really, as this is a short novella under one hundred pages and I fear saying anything would ruin it. I will say though that I really liked the messages here, it talks about the true meaning of Christmas and how as a society we have strayed from it in recent years. It makes you contemplate what is really important in our lives and it sure isn’t having a lot of things. It was a heartwarming story of love and loss, forgiveness and acceptance, and the power of faith. It ended on a slight cliffhanger but part two is coming and I can’t wait to see what choices Robert makes for himself and his life. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to my girl Laura for sending me a copy, I appreciate it greatly!